Rising through the flames

Chapter 13 - A Worthless Title

Her silky veil fell off when the young man leaned his hand forward. She felt uneasy because Amithnal (Nanda) too witnessed the obscenity. She heaved and placed one hand on her chest.

"My lady, Let me help you."

Queen Suveri helplessly clutched his hand. She forced herself to stand up but her legs were numb. The sudden shock made her fall backwards but Amithnal pressed her closer to him. At this moment they both were sensing each other. Her bloated doe eyes gazing at his eyes. His mind occupied with a strange feeling which was too complicated and rough. He fought with himself to get rid of this inappropriate feeling. She quickly pushed herself aside from him but she lost her balance once again. She faintly moaned and touched her numb legs with an awful look.

Amithnal's intrusive thoughts forced him to carry the queen in his arms. Thus, he held her from his arms amidst the chief queen's slight protest.

"Amithnal you shouldn't do this. It'll be offensive for you. I'll manage to walk by myself."

Amithnal remained silent. Their shadows fell onto the crystal lake and glittered. Blazing fire lamps were kept along the corridor to brighten up the palace. 

Her tears dried up with the help of the wind. She felt the intense comfort from him. She wondered how this man made her feel special all the time. She noted all his attractive features which resembled a heavenly glory. Those firm lips and his dark complexion with the vexation of his strong limbs reflected a whole warrior.

The whole night was tranquil and the chance of being witnessed by the evil eyes are minimum. Therefore, he could safely carry the chief queen to her chamber. He slowly placed her on the bed and bowed to her in order to take his leave but all of a sudden her slender fingers grasped his hand. A vibrant feeling shocked him and sent chills up his spine.

"Amithnal, please stay with me. I feel so lonely."

Amithnal felt helpless. How can he reject the chief queen's order. She began to sob again.

"You are the only person whom I can trust from now on. Please I beg you to listen to what I say. I'm tired of this life. I want to die. I'm fed up. You know that I'm still young but my parents forced me into marrying the king. I can't bear the way he treats me. I bear my love for the king but he only needs me to fulfill his desires. I have no one to talk except you. I'm infertile so he brought another woman. So I'm just the unworthy chief queen consort. Why do I have to bear all this ill luck? Why? Why? I'm so unlucky and my whole life is a hell."

She poured her heart out in front of Amithnal and a great stream of tears escaped from those innocent eyes. Amithnal had a soft spot for the chief queen and his heart ached as her confession turned violent.

"Chief Queen..... You..."

"Please Amithnal. Don't address me by this worthless title anymore. Just call me my lady. At least it'll be more soothing to hear it from you."

"My lady, You are not unlucky and your life isn't a hell. I know king Yanak's behavior is heart breaking but remember you are the chief queen of this country. You are the most powerful woman in Thrailokapura. You have to be that strong queen whom no one can defeat."

It was so hard for him to console her because he too was striving and surviving the pain of vengeance. He was already a victim of his fate. The death of his father and the massacre of the Naga clan killed him day by day.

"My lady, all you need to do is to be strong. Turn the pain you endure into power my lady."

Her eyes glistened and she didn't even miss a single detail of him. Those words contained the real motivation. They peeped into each other's mind set.